I've rediscovered a copy of Jonny Spielt Auf by Ernst Krenek in my collection - OK I've had it for years and only just got round to playinmg it. Anyway a lot of it sounds very dated and a bit naff, a lot of very naieve attempts to reinterpret jazz, but some of it is quite good. Is any of his other stuff available and is it any good?
Posted on: 17 June 2006 by Todd A
Krenek's thornier opera Karl V is more impressive as a work than Jonny, but it isn't in any way catchy or even upbeat. (And how can you not like the glacier in Jonny?) I also have a disc of a couple of his string quartets - forgot which ones - that are good, and one of his symphonies (or the only one?), which is too long but still has some good things in it.
If you want to hear one of his contemporaries who actually manages to fuse jazz and classical in an interesting way, Erwin Schulhoff is the way to go. His Hot Sonata is superb, and his Concerto for Piano and Small Orchestra is a favorite of mine.
--
